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More about who uses our water. Today, about half of our available water supply is consumed. This means it is used up and is no longer available. By the year 2000, our water will be used as follows: Municipal ( schools, homes, cooking, drinking) 3 percent Industrial ( manufacturing, mining 2 percent Irrigation ( crops gardens) 45 percent Wetlands ( lakes, rivers, marshes) 34 percent Evaporation ( lost surface water) 16 percent Total 100 percent Irrigation uses the most water. Industry, towns, cities, and agriculture together use about half the available water. The other half is used by natural vegetation or is lost by evaporation. An incredible amount of water evaporates from the Great Salt Lake on a hot summer day. Water used for recreation, fisheries, and hydro­electric power is not used up. It is still available for other uses. 12